The Tigers could manage just one goal against Roberts, but they made it stand in a 1-0 victory over the Mustangs.

“We had a lot of opportunities, and they dropped into a defensive shell,” Conroe coach Jack Richburg said. “They forced us to take a lot of shots early. Their goalie played a superb game.”

Kingwood (4-10-3, 3-3-3 in District 16-6A) played Conroe to a 1-1 draw earlier this season, so it was a big victory for the Tigers, who improved to 15-3-4 overall and 6-2-2 in 16-6A play.

“We came out a little intimiadated in the first half,” Kingwood coach Bryan Jennings said. “I think we got our wits about us in the second half. We thought we’d have to play strong defensively and work on the counter (attack).”

Conroe’s Wilmer Burgos scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute. A corner kick by Fabian Becerra got Burgos in position to score the goal, and he slammed the ball past Roberts to make it 1-0.

Kingwood’s Christian Cutbirth was in position to score an equalizer in the final moments of the first half, but Conroe goalkeeper Juan Ochoa made the play.

Ochoa was seldom challenged by the Mustangs.

“Juan wasn’t tested too much tonight,” Richburg said. “He had to come out further on a lot of plays because they like to use that outside speed game.

“We knew what we had to do (defensively) after playing them the first time.”

Emmy Orioha and the Tigers’ strikers kept Conroe on the attack in the second half. Orioha had a shot on goal in the opening moments of the half, and teammate Fabian Adame saw a strong shot sail over the crossbar.

Burgos’ passing kept the Tigers on the attack, and Adame’s shot in the 70th minute bounced wide right of the goal.

Conroe defender Juan Ramirez picked up a yellow card late in the match, but the Tigers’ defense stopped the last key challenge by Noah Brindsen in the 57th minute.